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Pribina, also called Priwina or Privina by Frankish chronicles, was the ruler and Prince of the Principality of Nitra before 833, and established and ruled the Balaton Principality from 839/840 to 861.
The main written source describing his life is Libellus de conversione Bagoariorum et Carantanorum (i.e. Conversio), created in Salzburg in the 870s. In addition, several buildings discovered by archaeologists in Slovakia and Hungary are dated to the period of his life. The Con 1680 versio proves that the building of several churches in the region of Transdanubia was connected to his activities.
Life
The Conversio mentions that he built a Christian church in his possession in Nitrava (Nitra, Slovakia). The Principality of Nitra was located approximately in present-day Slovakia and parts of present-day Hungary. Historians are divided about the issue whether Pribina was still a pagan at that time. The church was consecrated by Bishop Adalram of Salzburg in about 828. It was the first known church building of all Western and Eastern Slavs. The church may have served to Christian merchants living in Nitra or to Pribina's Bavarian wife. In addition, the construction of several castles is attributed to his period.
In 833, Pribina was expelled from Nitra by the Moravian (Maravi) duke Mojmír I. The destruction of the castles in Pobedim and Čingov are attributed to his fierce resistance. Modern historians claim that his principality was finally unified to the principality of Mojmír I, forming the core of the latter's Great Moravian Empire. Pribina went to count Ratbod who administered the Eastern March, and the count introduced him to king Louis the German. He was baptised on the order of the king.
Pribina left Eastern March after a dispute with count Ratbod. He escaped, with his family and retinue, to the Bulgarian Empire, and tried to persuade Khan Malamir to attack the Franks. Having recently made peace with them, Malamir refused, so Pribina thence moved to the court of Ratimir of Pannonia. Being technically under Ratbod's prefecture, Ratimir's harbouring of Pribina was tantamount to rebellion, so Frankish troops, led by count Ratbod, invaded his territories. Ratimir fled, whilst Pribina sought refuge with Salacho, the Bavarian margrave of Carniola. Having great sway with Louis the German, Salacho borkered a reconciliation between Pribina and Ratbod. Louis gave Pribina extensive lands in Lower Pannonia -the region between the Raab, Danube and Drava rivers, centred on the Zala, as a benefice.
After Pribina's arrival to his new property, he had a fortress built there; shortly afterwards, a settlement called Blatnograd (German Mosapurc or Moosburg, near today's Zalavár) was developing around the fortress. He also had other fortified settlements and churches built. Pribina could strengthen his power by gathering people and expanding his territories. On 12 October 848, King Louis the German granted him all the territories he had owned in benefice as a fief. In 861, he supported East Francia in its struggle against Great Moravia and died in a battle against the Great Moravian prince Rastislav (although some authors believe that he died at the hands of Carloman, during his rebellion against his father, Louis the German). He was succeeded by his son Koceľ.
Notes
- Kirschbaum, Stanislav J. (March 1995). A History of Slovakia: The Struggle for Survival. New York: Palgrave Macmillan; St. Martin's Press. p. 25. ISBN 978-0-312-10403-0.
{{cite book}}: Check|authorlink=value (help); External link in|authorlink= - Bagnell Bury, John (1923). The Cambridge Medieval History. Cambridge: Macmillan. p. 211.
- Libellus de conversione Bagoariorum et Carantanorum: "Cui quondam Adalrammus archiepiscopus ultra Danubium in sua proprietate loco vocato Nitrava consecravit ecclesiam." ("For him, Archbishop Adalrammus consecrated a church over the Danube in his own possession, in a place called Nitrava).
- Kirschbaum, Stanislav J. (March 1995). A History of Slovakia: The Struggle for Survival. New York: Palgrave Macmillan; St. Martin's Press. p. 84. ISBN 978-0-312-10403-0.
{{cite book}}: Check|authorlink=value (help); External link in|authorlink= - Libellus de conversione Bagoariorum et Carantanorum: "In cuius spacio temporis quidam Priwina exulatus a Moimaro duce Maravorum supra Danubium venit ad Ratbodum. Qui statim illum præsentavit domno regi nostro Hludowico, et suo iussu fide instructus baptizatus est in ecclesia sancti Martini loco Treisma nuncupato, curte videlicet pertinenti ad sedem Iuvavensem." ("In his days, a certain Priwina, who had been expelled by Moimarus, duke of the Maravi living over the Danube, came to Ratbodus. He introduced him to our Lord the King Hludowicus; and, on the order of the king, he was educated and baptised in Saint Martin's Church in Treisma, i.e., in a grange attached to the See of Salzburg.")
- The Struggle for Empire. Kingship and Coflict under Louis the German. 917-976. Pg 83-85. E J Goldberg. ISBN 976-0-8014-3890-5
- Conversio Bagoariorum et Carantanorum: "Aliqua vero interim occasione percepta, rogantibus prædicti regis fidelibus præstavit rex Priwinæ aliquam inferioris Pannoniæ in beneficium partem circa fluvium qui dicitur Sala" ("In the meantime, when an opportunity offered, the king, on the request of his above-mentioned faithful men, granted the parts of Lower Pannonia around the river called Sala to Priwina as a benefice").
- Conversio Bagoariorum et Carantanorum: "...concessit illi in proprium totum quod prius habuit in beneficium.." ("/The king/ ...granted him the full possession of everything he had held as a benefice...").
- Southeastern Europe in the Middle Ages, 500-1250.Florin Curta, Paul Stephenson. Pg 133-35